SA Election 2018 Policy Platform – Putting the People back into Government and Planning

Community Alliance SA Inc. (CASA) is an umbrella organisation for over 25 resident action groups in South Australia. CASA was formed in 2011 following a number of controversial Ministerial DPAs that caused widespread community concern. We advocate for our member groups, including lobbying for reform of government, planning and related legislation, and for genuine community engagement.

Our current system of government adversely affects the rights of individuals and communities. CASA’s aim is to increase accountability and community confidence in decision making; restoring the community’s rights to informed participation in their system of government, and protecting and safeguarding our heritage for future generations.

CASA requires a complete re-evaluation and review of the current South Australian planning system, which was made dysfunctional by recent changes under the Planning, Development and Infrastructure Act 2016 (PDI Act).

CASA is seeking your view as a citizen on the following policy and legislative proposals.

CASA SEEKS YOUR VIEWS ON THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING:

RESTORING PUBLIC CONFIDENCE AND IMPROVING ACCOUNTABILITY IN DECISION MAKING BY:

Repealing the PDI Act and reintroducing the previous legislation, followed by the development of a community-based planning system to replace the previous legislation.

Overhauling the Parliamentary Environment, Resources and Development Committee to restore the independence of the committee and enable greater oversight of decisions made by the Minister and their delegates, particularly regarding Development Plan Amendments and major projects.

Restrict the declaration of major projects to major projects of real significance e.g. projects in excess of $100 million and in the public interest.

Making public the operations of the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Legislating to ban political donations from developers and other industry lobbyists.

Limiting the role of private certifiers to minor building assessment.

2. RESTORING AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS TO INFORMATION, OBJECTION
AND APPEAL OF PLANNING DECISIONS, AND ENHANCING COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE PLANNING SYSTEM BY:

Introducing a community engagement process that provides for genuine community consultation rights and increased community representation in the development assessment process, including making the engagement process enforceable.

Restoring council elected member planning panels for development assessments; bringing the decision making process back under council control, as it is in Victoria and NSW.

Introducing an affordable, low-cost tribunal based appeals process.

Including an independent community member with experience in community development and engagement on the State Planning Commission (or similar); appointed by Parliament.

Providing an appropriate level of funding to enable the Environmental Defenders Office SA to continue providing legal advice and assistance on environmental matters.

3. GREATER PROTECTION OF HERITAGE AND STREETSCAPES BY:

Including all heritage matters in one Heritage Act.

Retaining existing heritage and streetscape contributory items and prohibiting the demolition of such items before planning approval of replacement items.

Prohibiting the demolition of any listed heritage place (either State or Local) unless they are irreparable.

Increasing penalties and greater enforcement where there has been intentional damage or neglect of heritage properties.

Streamlining and simplifying heritage listing criteria and processes for new listings under the Heritage Act.

Removing ministerial obstructions to heritage listings approved by local government.

Assessing all contributory items against criteria for potential inclusion as local heritage places.Restoring powers of compliance inspection to local government to ensure full compliance with planning approvals.

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We are an umbrella organisation representing resident and community groups. Dedicated to 'Putting the People back into Planning and Development in SA', our goal is a planning and development process which is accountable, transparent and sustainable, and that guarantees genuine community engagement.